Oddity Archive
The Oddity Archive is a web series that revolves around the "cultural dustbin", especially as it pertains to media. The Archive also functions as an actual archive of sorts, with a modest collection of off-air Betamax and VHS recordings (about 400 total as of June, 2014). There's also a decent collection of ephemeral video, "ripoff" and "drugstore" LP's/cassettes/8-tracks, as well as (working) obsolete technology.
PlayEpisodes
- 112021-07-22
How I Spent My Summer VIII (Ben Vs. The Sony AV-3600 Videocorder)
...because cassettes are for poseurs.
- 222021-08-12
Record Ripoffs Vol. 11 ('80's Hits: Woodgrain & Neon)
Some of the most grody tunes we’ve ever covered fer sure, fer sure.
- 332021-08-26
USA Networkisms (A Willfully Premature Eulogy)
Let us take an all-night flight to remember why USA once was “America’s Favorite Cable Network”…
- 442021-09-16
Random CD's
Whatdaya do when you’ve had your fill of analog media? Start hittin’ the ones and zeros…
- 552021-09-29
Silent Treatment (A Celebration of Silent Movie Day)
Benny-boy celebrates the first annual Silent Movie Day by…talking at great length about the silents. Nobody ever accused him of being sharp…
- 662021-10-14
Dodgy Demo DVD's
As of this posting, we’re right on the edge of the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the DVD. Guess it’s finally ripe for Archivedom…
- 772021-10-28
Benny M.'s TV Party (Halloween Special 2021)
“Benny & The Bot”…coming this fall to KLAK…whether Ben likes it or not. NOTE: Just consider this a 20-minute art film.
- 882021-11-11
Bad '80's Syndicated Sitcoms
Benny the Script Doctor makes a housecall regarding some bad sitcoms.
- 992021-11-25
OA's Greatest Commercials
10 ads (or series thereof) selected by viewers. Any turkeys in this Thanksgiving episode are purely coincidental.
- 10102021-12-09
FBI Film Raids & Betamax Blues
Ah, the good, old days. Back when owning a 16mm film or recording something off the TV could get you a visit from the Feds. Good times…
- 11112021-12-23
Christmas Special 2021 (A Good Ol' Archive Christmas)
Archivisms roasting on an open fire…
- 12122022-01-13
PCM Audio on Videotape (Betamax, VHS & U-Matic)
Hey buddy, wanna hear my (horribly impractical) mixtape?
- 13132022-01-27
Overplayed Commercials (1960's - 2001)
100% pure, shameless, unfettered nostalgia, courtesy of the Oddity Archive®
- 14142022-02-10
Valentine's Day Special 2022 (It's A Love Thing)
Learn all about the fine art of meeting Ben!
- 15152022-02-24
Vinyl Potpourri Vol. 3 (Gimmick Records)
Vinyl Potpourri is back! It’s a (1,885 second) miracle!
- 16162022-03-10
Prehistoric UHF (Early UHF TV in the U.S.)
A solid-state tuner is recommended for the viewing of this OA episode…in some way we haven’t figured out yet.
- 17172022-03-24
Cult VHS Distributors Vol. 2 (Sinister Cinema & Vestron Video)
Another (belated) salute to the bottom of the Mom-and-Pop video rental store barrel!
- 18182022-04-07
VHS Vault Vol. 19 (Business Scams)
It’s time for the New $25,000 Pyramid…scheme.
- 19192022-04-21
Radio Stunting
Times are changing and KLAK-AM needs to keep up. As such, let’s look at some gimmicks (stunts) used by other radio stations to plug their new formats…
- 20202022-05-05
Ben Vs. The Massey-Ferguson Tapes
Taking a leisurely, country stroll through the (cowpie-laden) great audiovisual pasture…
- 21212022-05-26
Early MP3 Players (Diamond Rio & RCA Lyra 2)
Oddity Archive®: Now available in 64kbps mp3!
- 22222022-06-09
CX Audio Noise Reduction (The Hard Way)
Four months, three countries, two-hundred-plus dollars all in the name of…meh. Or, what Dolby was to cassette, CX was (supposed to be) for vinyl.
